Andrew Barge – Chair of Trustees

Andrew is a former Chairman of Vranch House, Exeter (a school and clinical centre for children with physical disabilities). He was a Marketing Manager at Vranch House from 2013-2020.

Andrew has now re-joined the NHS, working locally as an Information Governance Consultant. Andrew has a degree in Financial Services from Bournemouth University. His working life to date has included working for Natwest, Barclays Investment, and GE Capital Finance. From 2001-2013 he worked for the NHS where he undertook different roles including managing projects, clinical audits, and being the organisation lead for information governance and equality and diversity. In his spare time, Andrew is a football reporter for BBC Radio Devon and other local BBC stations.

Susan Fallon – Trustee

Susan has worked at the University of Exeter since 2016 and previously worked in International Development and Housing. Susan has worked for numerous charities including Bloodwise, VSO, and Christian Aid. She was previously Treasurer on the Board of Housing Justice.

Brian Imeson – Trustee

Brian worked in television and sound engineering with the BBC European Radio Service in London, then went on to join Granada Television working in both sound and vision. Brian was involved in youth organisations and church councils where he was a treasurer for three years.

After running a hotel for 15 years, Brian retired in Exmoor where he lives today. He sits on the Board of Trustees and has been a member of the See Hear Centre Advisory Committee for nineteen years.

He feels that his roles in the community enable him to bring people with sensory and physical disabilities together with the public. He is visually impaired and, as a pensioner, feels he can help people in some aspects of life from his own experience.

Richard Manley – Trustee

Richard Manley – Trustee

Following a successful military career, Richard became an arborist until a spinal injury forced a change in circumstances. Richard moved into tech development and worked in digital accessibility for some years before transitioning his skills in machine readable content across to software, although family members kept accessibility front of mind, both digital and physical.

Richard currently inspires e-commerce teams while delivering deep knowledge and intuitively sensing weakness in marketing campaigns and digital ideas. Richard has helped the world’s largest e-commerce companies to enhance their customer experiences and he is a real expert in the field of Al-driven e-commerce.

Richard joined the Living Options Devon Board of Trustees in 2019.

When he is not at work, you’ll find Manley out on our coasts, in his role as an HMCG Rescue Officer.

Peter was injured in a gymnastics accident in 1965. He had a BA(hons) and Law Society Part I qualification.

After establishing the Exeter City Council for Independent Living in 1982 and being appointed to the Exeter Health Authority, Peter founded Living Options Devon in 1990 and became our first director. Peter chaired the first National User and Carer Group between 1993-1997 which reported directly to the Department of Health. He was an Associate Hospital Manager with the Devon Partnership Trust and received an OBE in 1996 for services to the development of health, social care, and voluntary sector.

Peter passed away in the summer of 2021, we miss him greatly but continue to fulfill his legacy. Find out more at the About Us section of our website.



Diana Crump – CEO

Diana Crump – Chief Executive Officer

Diana was appointed as Chief Executive Officer fourteen years ago following twenty-five years’ experience in Organisational development and large-scale transformational change. Under her leadership, Living Options has grown and developed, securing contracts and grants enabling the work of our charity to expand in accordance with the organisation’s strategic plan.

Heather Brown – Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Heather joined Living Options in 2014 to manage the Devon Advocacy Consortium. Having graduated from University of Plymouth with a MSc in Psychology, Heather then went on to work in mental health for the next 5 years. Here, she managed a national advocacy service and worked closely with private hospital groups and local authority commissioners.

She is a qualified Independent Advocate with previous experience in mental health secure and forensic settings.

Heather oversees many of the operational teams within LOD and is the Safeguarding Lead for the organisation.

Stephanie Lewis – Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Stephanie joined Living Options in April 2022 as an experienced senior leader with a strong background in local government policy, governance and democratic processes. She brings an extensive understanding of local government processes and decision-making procedures, has led on Council service reviews and worked in collaboration with partners to promote the integration of health and social care and execute the delivery of improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the people of Devon.

She is passionate about community engagement, understanding user-experience, delivering evidence-based services that benefit the community, and is excited to be working in an organisation that champions the voice of disabled and Deaf people.

Diane King – Finance Manager and Secretary

Diane trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant after receiving a BSc Hons in Biological Science at Sussex University. Diane is a member of the Senior Management Team at Living Options Devon and holds the role of Finance Manager, she has 20 years’ experience in a range of commercial businesses.

She has applied her knowledge from commerce and acquired wide experience of funding applications during her time at Living Options Devon, which keeps her inspired to make a difference to the beneficiaries of the charity.